452 Epilogue
received by 12 July. After 24 June, all but twelve of the self-denunciations
would cluster in groups, on every fourth or fifth day: 26 June (thirteen), 29
June (eleven), 3 July (twelve), 8 July (seventeen), 12 July (twelve). Mondays
and Fridays often saw heavy traffic. None would come on Thursdays, al-
though the tribunal was open. It seems likely that Fra Guido concentrated
on the parishes around the Market where Bompietro was well known, an-
nouncing days on which those denouncing themselves should appear. An-
nouncements were probably made at Mass on Sundays and then again (by
heralds?) on Thursdays. Those who had uttered rash statements knew they
could be turned in, and after the first week of depositions, Fra Guido only
imposed the token £ 10 bail sporadically. It is not surprising that so many
came and confessed.
The parishes with over ten self-denunciations each—San Martino dell’A-
posa (sixty-four), Santa Maria della Mascarella (fifty-seven), San Tommaso
del Mercato (eighteen), Santa Maria Maggiore (sixteen), San Benedetto in
Galliera (thirteen), and San Sinesio (twelve)—were all located on the sides of
the Market. Except in the case of San Tommaso, the depositions are concen-
trated on particular dates, with about half from each coming together: San
Martino ( 18 – 19 May), Santa Maria della Mascarella ( 19 – 21 May), Santa
Maria Maggiore ( 19 May), San Benedetto ( 25 May), and San Sinesio ( 15 – 17
June). Even the depositions from less well represented parishes appear to-
gether chronologically.^207 We may assume that each parish was summoned
for a particular day or time. If one could not come to the inquisition to turn
oneself in, Fra Guido was happy to send a messenger over to take down the
confessions—as he did for the family of Pietro Pizzoli of Argelato on 19 June,
when Fra Tommaso della Cena and Benincasa di Martini took down his
confession and those of the five women of his house.^208
The publication of excommunications in the parishes and the occasional
long lines of offenders at the tribunal would have been a regular reminder
of the presence of the inquisition. As the investigation proceeded, the object
of new protests shifted to the Dominicans themselves, away from the injustice
done to Bompietro. Oddo di Albertino Lasagnoli, a master carpenter from
Santa Tecla di Porta Nova, which was directly on the Piazza Maggiore,
wandered about his neighborhood bad-mouthing the friars and longing for
a popular uprising to exterminate them. He also cursed the pope and the
clergy. On 2 June, Bondiolo, a tavern keeper from the contrada, denounced
him for defending Bompietro.^209 Another resident, Don Vacondio Amati,
probably worried that Lasagnoli’s behavior would draw suspicion to the par-
- E.g.: S. Nicola degli Albari, six of eight on 20 – 21 June; S. Agata, all six on 3 July; S. Cristina
della Fondezza, all four on 12 July.
208 .ASOB,nos. 429 – 34 , 1 : 258 – 59 ;on 26 June, another family of four confessed at home, ibid., no.
477 – 80 , 1 : 275 – 76. - Ibid., no. 354 , 1 : 230.